Tampa – The Foundation for Community Driven Innovation is pleased to announce that development of the Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Center (AMRoC) is now underway at University Mall on Fowler Avenue in Tampa. In collaboration with the Mall, Hillsborough County Libraries, SOFWERX, USF, Code for Tampa Bay Brigade, PLuGHiTz Corporation and other local corporate and academic partners, the space will be configured as a FabLab style facility that will be part of the RD Management redevelopment of the Mall into a mixed-use city center.
The 100 acre Mall is slated to become a multi-story, urban neighborhood development showcasing life sciences and technology research, retail and recreational opportunities, education, corporate and co-working space and more, making it the perfect home for the AMRoC Fab Lab. With 7000+ sq. ft. of open store front plus another 2000 sq. ft. of storage/back space, AMRoC has plenty of room and resources to develop robust programming to service youth and adults with skills development, creative enjoyment and capacity building opportunities year round.
Aiming for a grand opening in the spring of 2019, the FabLab is intended to be an inclusive, accessible, enjoyable and affordable space for creative expression, fabrication and rapid prototyping, and product development – essentially a community center with tools and tech. The space will provide opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy everything from personal skills development to earning professional certifications and to develop needed workforce skills. The AMRoC FabLab will also serve as a FIRST youth robotics hub for Tampa Bay and Central Florida, with the only permanent FIRST Robotics Competition field in the state, along with a FIRST Tech Challenge field, and FIRST LEGO League tables, resources and gear, providing a way for more youth to get involved in this life changing STEM program.
As part of the global FabLab community, AMRoC FabLab is committed to sharing an evolving inventory of core capabilities that will allow facility users the ability to make almost anything, in a collaborative and welcoming environment intended to benefit participants and the local community.
About FCDI
The Foundation for Community Driven Innovation (FCDI) is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting academic achievement, economic development and the spirit of innovation through inspiring programs and active learning projects. FCDI annually hosts ROBOTICON Tampa Bay at the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. FCDI is a member of the federally created Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. Learn more at FFCDI.org and visit AMRoCTampaBay.com to learn more about AMRoC Fab Lab.
Media Contact: Terri Willingham
Phone: 813-728-2822
Email: Terri@FFCDI.org